TRAI Starts Working On Guidelines For Modern Telecom Networks

Especially for 4G services, Telecom regulator TRAI today initiated the process for framing rules linked to modern networks that will be installed soon, and their connectivity with presently deployed networks.

According to the official statement, "Traditional telecommunication systems are migrating towards more powerful and viable internet protocol based telecommunication systems. Migration...will result in co-existence of legacy network along with IP based network. In view of these, TRAI has brought out a consultation paper on Migration to IP based networks."

The statement further said, "The new IP based network as well as its co-existence with legacy network will give rise to several operational, interconnection and quality of service issues which needs to be addressed for the successful migration to IP based networks."

Network of all telecom companies are interconnected which is vital for completion of calls or sharing of messages through mobile or landline phones.

At present, there are regulations that ensure that none of the players face discrimination or cartelisation by their competitors by rejecting or degrading connectivity of network. However, telecom networks in place are mostly based on old technologies. Networks based on internet protocol will start a new phase of enhanced quality.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has sought views of interested people on IP inter-connection issues, co-existence of legacy network with new networks, requirement of regulatory intervention, interconnection requirement for application and content service providers, quality of service issues among various other operational issues.

Last date for submitting comments on this paper is July 21 and counter comments by July 28.